Saddletree-plate.



No. 873,509. I PATENTED DEC. 10, 1907.

Y J. E. L. CRAWFORD.

SADDLETREE PLATE. ABEL-NATION FILED MAY 17, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I Int/67%??? 175%22275 fliawizi No. 873,509. PATENTED DEC. 10, 1907.

' J. E L. CRAWFORD.

SADDLBT-REE PLATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1907. 4

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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lllll I UNITED srans JOHN E/L. CRAWFORD, or LISBON, oino.

SADDLETREE-PLATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1907.

Application filed May 17, 1907. Serial No. 374,154.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. L. CRAW- FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lisbon, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Saddletree-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to saddle tree plates, and one of the objects thereof is to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth a reinforced or stiffened tree or pad plate made from sheet metal for use with or without the backband, and by such construction prevent a a change in the shape of the plate when in ordinary use, and furthermore by constructing the plate of sheet metal reducing the cost of the plate in comparison with the expense attached to the plates now in general use.

Furthermore, by providing the reinforced plate of sheet metal strength, durability and mited resiliency are obtained.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

' which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of saddle-tree plate in accordance with this invention; Fig. '2 is a top plan; Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig, 4 is a sectionon line 44 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 illustrates the pair of reinforcing members; Fig. 6 is a transverse section of a modification; Fig. 7 is a like view; Fig. 8 is a modified form of plate showing the sameconstruoted for use in connection with the backhand; Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of the frame shown in Fig. 8 Fig. 10 is a top plan of such form; Fig. 11 is a section on line 1111 of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a transverse section showing the position of the terret, and Fig. 13 is a transverse section of a modification showing the position of the terret. Fig. 14 is a transverse section showing in full and dotted lines various positions of bending of the longitudinal marginal portions for reinforcing the metallic strip.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 the tree plate is formed of a narrow elongated strip of sheet metal indicated by the reference character 1 and which is provided with openings 2 to receive the terrets. The longitudinal, marginal portions of the strip are bent upon the outer face thereof as at 3, so as to reinforce the plate. The strip is substantially archshaped in contour and at the top thereof stiffening members 4 are provided which are inclosed by the bent-over marginal portions 3. The stiffening members 4 are of much less length than the length of the plate so'that the portions of the plate extending from the ends of the stiffening members will be more resilient than the central portion of the plate. The stiffening members 4 are of such strength as to retain the arch-shaped contour of the plate when it is in ordinary use. Openings 5 are provided for attaching the pad to the plate and an opening 6 is also provided to enable the securing of the check rein hook thereto. That part of the bent overmarginal portions 3 which extends from the ends of the stiffening members 4 lies flatupon the outer face of the plate, but that part of the bent-over marginal portions which surrounds the stiffening members is cylindrical in cross section.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a modified form of plate is shown and in this connection it will be stated that the bent-over marginal portions which are indicated by the reference character 7 lie against the lower face of the plate in lieu of the outer face as shown in Fig. 2.

Theforms of plate shown in Figs. 1 to 7 are adapted for use when dispensing with the backband. In Figs. 8, 9 and 10, however,

the plate is shown set up for use in connection with the backband and also so constructed as to enable the terrets to be adjustably connected thereto. In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 the strip of sheet metal from which the plate is formed is indicated by the refer-- proper seating of the backband at the top of the plate, the stiffening members 10 being also offset so as to conform to the shape of the plate at the top thereof. These stiffening members are not of a length equal to that of the strip so that the bent-over marginal portions which extend from the ends of the stiffening members will lie flat against the outer face of the strip 8. Secured to the top of the plate, one at each side of the in closed stiffening members 10 is a strip of leather 15 for filling the space formed between the backband 14, when it is attached to the plate, and the inclosed stiffening members. The strip is furthermore pro vided with a pair of elongated slots 16 for the sockets 17 of the terrets 18. The material of the strip is swaged so as to form the openings 16 and a pair of bearing flanges 19 for the top of the socket 17. (See Fig. 12.) The bottom of the socket 17 is enlarged, as at 20, so that the socket cannot be pulled through the plate. The socket 17 is screwthreaded to receive the screw-threaded shank 21 of the terret. The supports 21 are provided for the terrets, such supports being struck from the strip when forming the openings -11.

In Fig. 13 a modified form of plate is shown and which consists in dispensing with the flanges 19 and. forming the plate with a depressed portion 22 having an open ing 23 through which extends a screwthreaded socket 24 for the terret 25.

By constructing the plate in a manner as shown in Fig. 12 or Fig. 13 it is evident that the socket can be shifted from one end to the other of the slot 16 or 23.

What I claim is:

1. A saddle tree plate comprising a strip of sheet metal provided with stiffening members arranged solely at the top of the strip and inclosed by bent-over marginal portions of the strip, the parts of the bent-over mar ginal portions of the strip which do not inclose the stiffening members lying flat against the strip, thereby reinforcing it.

2. A saddle tree plate comprising a strip of sheet metal substantially arch-shaped in contour and having the longitudinal marof sheet metal substantially arch-shaped in contour and having the longitudinal mar ginal portions thereof bent against the strip to reinforce it, and stiffening members arranged at the top of the strip and inclosed by the bent marginal portions thereof, said members of less length than said strip said.

strip at a point intermediate. the center and each end thereof offset and. further provided with a plurality of openings for terrets.

4. A saddle tree plate formed from a strip of metallic material having portions thereof bent downwardly to form a box for the socket of a terret, said strip further having portions overlapping the lower face to constitute a support for the socket of the terret and bearing for the upper face of the back band.

5. A saddle tree plate formed from a strip of metallic material substantially archshaped in contour and formed with rectangular openings for the baekband; and openings of like contour for terret sockets, the openings for the terret sockets being of less Width than the openings for the lntckband, said strip further having offset portions so as to provide the strip with raised portions of a height equal to the thickness of a backband.

6. A saddle tree plate comprising a terretsocket-receiving portion having inclined sides, and a terret socket mounted in the plate. having an enlarged base and a contracted body'portion having inclined sides.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN E. L. CRiUVFORD.

itnesses:

H. JOHN E. B AansLnY, WILLIAM H. SrnNen. 

